South Green Lake Volunteer Fire Department

South Green Lake Volunteer Fire Department members set up sprinklers around the Green Lake Snowmobile Club to form a water barrier around the building.

Ken Alexander photo

South Green Lake Volunteer Fire Department (SGLVFD) firefighters and officers have conducted two wildfire practices in July.

The first practice saw them setting up sprinkler lines around the Green Lake Snowmobile Clubhouse and on the boulevard on the shoreline side of Green Lake South Road. The sprinkler lines went up smoothly and they had water flowing quickly.

The firefighters got passing grades from Fire Chief Roger Graham and Safety Officer Steve Baker.

The second practice involved a mock callout to Access Road #14. The response time was excellent. As soon as the firefighters and apparatus arrived on the scene, the firefighters quickly set up yard sprinkler lines as well as roof top sprinklers on the home and garage at the end of the cul-de-sac.

Everyone was kept busy setting up sprinkler lines from the equipment that was stored in the new wildfire trailer.

The trailer also carried portable pumps that were used to draw water from Green Lake to feed the sprinklers that were providing a steady and strong flow of water to create a moisture barrier that would stop a wildfire from spreading from the bush to the buildings on the property.

This practice was significantly more sophisticated than the first one, and everyone did their jobs flawlessly.

If a spot fire popped up in the South Green Lake community, local firefighters would have a good chance at stopping or significantly slowing the spread of fire.

Sprinklers available

South Green lake full- and part-time residents who signed up to purchase sprinklers from the SGLVFD will be able to pick them up at the fire hall on July 31 from 1 to 3 p.m.

Firefighters and officers worked hard to build all of the sprinklers.

Residents are asked to have their cheques ready when they pick up their sprinklers during the drive-through event at the fire hall (546 Green Lake South Rd.) on July 31 between 1 and 3 p.m.

Safety bags and detectors available

The second round of safe home safety bag, with combined smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms, drive-through pickup event at the fire hall will be held at the fire hall on July 31 from 1 to 3 p.m.

The South Green Lake community’s full- and part-time residents were given this gift thanks to the Fire Chiefs Association, Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) and the Office of the Fire Commissioner.

The South Green Lake Volunteer Fire Department was the recipient of hundreds of combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms to give to South Green Lake full- and part-time residents who don’t have hard-wired alarms in their homes and cabins.

However, it wasn’t just the alarms the SGLVFD received. It also got reusable bags from the TNRD full of home fire safety information as part of the giveaway package.

Residents are asked to have their names, lot numbers, phone numbers and e-mail addresses ready when they pick up their safety bags.

Residents are asked to drive safely when the come into the parking lot to pick up alarms and fire-safety information because there will also be residents coming in to pick up their pre-ordered sprinklers.